I've always had a hard time balancing life as an artsy gal, and life as an athletic/competitive gal. The two just don't seem to understand one another.
Artsy Meg wants to stay up really late drinking coffee, painting things and forgetting to eat (and then pig out when I'm really hungry). Athletic Meg wants to get up really early, accomplish big goals, and eat to fuel my body. Artsy Meg wants to wander through the park, doodling and taking pictures, taking in the beautiful scenery. Athletic Meg wants to run fast through the park, do some crunches and lunges, yet also while taking in the beautiful scenery.
Brent has never really known Athletic Meg. When he met me, I was at a point where running was starting to take a back burner to my art life and of course (because of him) dating life. The two years before I met him, I'd gotten really into running - it was a great outlet for me, and since I was no longer playing sports all the time like I did in highschool and college, it was a way for me to compete again. Not necessarily against others (unless I was running a race with my sister!), but more against myself.
Then I had my 4th knee surgery (not running related by the way...).
Brent and I got engaged, got married, and we were living the little happy newly wed life. Running just wasn't a priority.
But the past few months, I've been frustrated that Brent has never really known Athletic Meg. We'd go for jogs together, or the gym, and lot's of bike rides - but he'd never really met the side of me that has "fire". He'd only seen that with me in the art world - but not the competitive sense (well, except on the paddleball course on our Kiawah vacations...I beat him for the first time this year, by the way...).
So, about 8 weeks ago, I decided to sign up for the Virginia 10-miler, a very hilly, tough 10 mile race here in Lynchburg (it is called The Hill City afterall).
At first, it was really just to prove to him that I still had it in me.
But today, as I was pushing myself up a ridiculous hill around mile 9, I realized it was more to prove it to myself.
Artsy Meg and Athletic Meg can coexist.
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